SELF- REGULATION AND SHORT MESSAGE SERVICE (SMS) INTERVENTION FOR PROMOTING SAFE SEX AMONG ARMY CONSCRIPTS IN LOP BURI ARMY AREA, THAILAND

Abstract

Background: At present, sexual risk behaviors are threatening the health status and undermining quality of life of the Thai population. In particular, military recruits are among the most vulnerable people with HIV/AIDS and other STIs. Therefore, an innovative program is needed to promote safe sex behavior among conscripts. Objectives: To examine and compare the effectiveness of self-regulation and mobile phone Short Message Service (SMS) intervention program among 1-way SMS, 2-way SMS and control group to promote safe sex among army conscripts in Lop Buri army area. Methods: A quasi-experimental design was used for this study. The participants were military conscripts in Lop Buri army area recruited by multi-stage sampling technique. One hundred ninety-two conscripts were randomly selected to 1-way SMS (n=64), 2-way SMS (n=64) and control (n=64) groups respectively. The intervention consisteds of a formative study, training in self-regulation of safe sex with SMS communication. The SMS was sent 2 times a week for 3 months. A memorandum calendar was used to record safe sex behaviors. Data collection was administered at baseline, 1, 3, and 6 months after the end of the intervention by using a questionnaire developed from a review of related theories. Results: At 6 months follow-up conscripts in the 1-way SMS, 2-way SMS and control group were 55, 55 and 52 persons respectively. The results showed that there were significant difference for theoretical characteristics for self-regulation, self-efficacy, outcome expectancy, risk perception, intention to practice, and action plan (p-value < 0.05) at 1st, 2nd, and 3rd follow-ups. However, the safe sex practices in terms of condom use, abstinence from alcohol drinking and drug use before or during having sex showed significant differences among 3 groups only at the 3rd follow-up (p-value < 0.05). Conclusion and recommendations: Self-regulation and SMS intervention can promote perception and action planning for performing safe sex among army conscripts. The effect on safe sex practices in terms of condom use, abstinence from alcohol drinking and drug use before or during having sex have found only in the last follow-up. It is suggested that we should add more strengthen program with a proper methods for a message sending. In addition, creating a social networking group or the specific applications to access and exchange information should be consideration in order to achieve much benefit in the future.